No probs at all blader – glad you got sorted though!

And yeah, I’ve met a few good types through bikey forumy places.

Glad you got sorted in a timely and pleasant manner.

(Even if you did buy the wrong bike, should have had my Tracer, grumble moan , groan ;-) )

Matt – would that be a high roller 2 and in 27.5″, presumably? #current

Yossarian – my original Tracer was ahem called Tracy. We had many fun filled years together but ultimately it felt like she wasn’t prepared to put any effort into the relationship. She’d winge and creak and moan whenever I was demanding of her. I felt like she wanted to slow down when I didn’t.

So.. Along comes Tracer T275C , and apparently (according to the wife) it’s a He, and hence is called Troy.

Previous bikes include Ramascese (The Reign) and Gary (the Gary Fisher) , as well as the “b@stid secondhand Foes with a bent frame that didn’t deserve a name” and the GT I drive that gave me severe concussion and also didn’t deserve naming. Oh and Patricia (another GT, a Panterra) that ran away with the circus / got stolen by gypsies..

Ok, yes – we have plastic opaque Windows – it keeps the sun out.

Yes the down pipe empties onto the paving. Yes the paving is horrid.

But yes , ohhhhh THE SHAME!! I realised half way round the ride that I had wheel reflectors on still.

Please forgive me. How do I feel better?

Are they breezy enough not to melt in on a full day’s riding (say 5 hrs) up big hills?

I know this is probably not what I should be worrying about but do any of you guys worry about appearing like a phat, middle aged AGNI mincing about with a full facer?

(Assuming of course that you’re middle aged, well padded and have all the gear and no idea)

I just worry I’ll look like a twot and a sweaty one at that , struggling up the climbs in a full face lid..

I’m sat here reading this thread having been up most of the night with a new born. I’m now watching our 2 yr old arrange a hedgehog tea party (did you know that hedgehogs eat toast and chillis for breakfast?).

As others have said – it’s the hardest but best thing you’ll do. The first four months are the hardest but just remember it does get easier!

Oh and I agree completely with ignoring the Internet, books and well wishers – find what works for you!

Good luck :D

I would say I’m in a fairly similar situation but to a lesser degree. Virtually every Friday, Saturday and Sunday I’ll get through a bottle of 14% wine and maybe a beer or two whilst sat on the sofa on my own.

I also have a 2 yr old and a new born. It’s not great.

For me I think it probably stems from a strong historical association between alcohol and relaxation. I used to watch my dad sit down every night with 4 cans (of special brew). Sorry, I’m probably not helping loads but just wanted you to know it’s not that unusual. My first step is cutting the drinking nights down to 2 from the usual 3 or 4. It may sound ridiculous but last night I found fizzy water was quite good at making me feel like I was drinking something rather than sat twiddling my thumbs… A new born is also quite an effective distraction technique – hard to imagine you’ll have much peaceful time for boozy sofa slob time :D

I had a 2008 320i and the only thing that needed doing was coils (well known issue).

Servicing for bimmers over 4 yrs old isn’t too bad even at main dealers as most do a special cheaper service for the older cars. I never paid more than £200 for any service or repair at a main dealer.

The 320i’s are lovely and smooth and surprisingly quick if you’re willing to rev the nuts off them (you may not be interested in this aspect :D )

I don’t know of many frames that will run 26 and 27.5

As for forks – I think it’s technically possible to fit new lowers to some forks but it’d be very expensive!

I’d say either stick with 26″ kit and look for good used stuff or buy a new 27.5 bike..

You’ve got 27.5″ wheels sorted already?

Why that frame in particular?

By the time you’ve bought a new frame, forks and wheels it might be end up cheaper to buy a new bike..?

(It’s an ongoing joke in our house whilst doing the weekly shop – “how are we for mig welders dear, enough at home?”

Greenhouses, firepits, cycling gear, welders and air compressors

Yep, I’m basing the measurements on my Large frames both set to longest travel modes (HA etc allegedly doesn’t change).

I guess I could put the saddle back a bit – the bikes feels really long when trying to manoeuvre it in the front room (as it’s too shiny for the garage) yet really quite cramped when I’m on it. Sorry, not “the bike”, I mean Troy

I can’t find definitive info on my old bike but it’s an Intense Tracer VP vs Tracer T275C

Troy does have wider bars though. Trevor is Tracy’s weekend name only ..

Personally I wouldn’t put brand new forks on it.

I’d either:

1.Get a whole new bike
2. Find some good condition secondhand forks for it but not spend too much

Aldi have them going for £20 (I’ve had one of this type for 8 years). It has folding legs and everything :-)

https://www.aldi.co.uk/p/64958/1

My local (near Chesterfield) aldi have loads of them but that’s probably no help..

Ah ok, hmmm I might have to give it a go then!

Cheers all

So excuse my thickness but what stops the fluid coming out when I unscrew it at the lever?

I’ll be using internal routing that allegedly has a tube all the way through so no fishing required!

Ok thanks!

I guess I need to empty all of the fluid out in entirely in order to route the hose.. I’m wondering whether the two little bottles in the bleed kit will be enough?

Ok thanks peeps! :-)

^^ looks good

Can anyone confirm that tape is OK on carbon frames?!

^ interesting! I’m a little worried about taking the paint off my nice new frame though (tis Carbon, no idea if that makes a difference?)

I’m soooo out of touch – what’s a narrow wide?

Would my chain line alter if I did this? Will any 11 speed single ring go straight onto the cranks?

Ta

Cdoc – I don’t really have the time (mini RRR number 2 arrived 2 weeks ago hence the sleep deprivation!)

You don’t fancy buying all or part of a 2010 intense tracer with XT groupset and Lyrik solo air rc2dh? The bearings may or may not need a little work :D

Ok, shameless picture time. The pic doesn’t really show the almost “hi viz” element to the orange – it’s brighter than it looks.

Hora – I’m really not sure now. I bought my existing non stealth reverb from bikeshoo.de
For about £170 eighteen months ago.

However they all seem to be at least £220 now.

Btw new bike weight is 28.8lb without pedals or dropper (so 30.8) which isn’t at all bad considering the cheap spec.

Yeah the spec of the Foundation model is pretty low but serviceable. However, what I paid is only slightly more than the price of the frame and forks alone.

My biggest challenge currently is that there’s no routing for a non stealth reverb. I really don’t want to have to buy a new one given the current prices!

Pic to follow

It’s arrived! :D

Yes the orange is Very orange but it’s growing on me (I was worried that I’d hate it and have to send it back)

Sorry for the hijack but it is related I promise!

My new bike comes with 2*10 based on Deore shifters, front mech , cranks and an SLX rear mech.

Can anyone tell me what sort of weight saving I’d get from going 1*11 full XT?

Presumably the weight of a front mech, shifter and the small differences in spec/quality of what remains?

Ta and hugs :-)

I pretty much ignore what magazines say now .. Doesn’t the RTC3 have the same damper as the RC but just with more adjustability?

On another note, having ordered the “red” one I’m worried that I’ll hate the colour as all the pics I can find online of the newer ones show them looking distinctly orange!

Eek

They do have some sizes in black!

I need a large so had to go for the red which I hope looks like the above and not orange as it does on the intense site!

Oldejeans – you could be right.

I think I’m just overexcited as I may have just ordered the T275C :D

Any hints or tips or recommended upgrades? I’m just getting the cheapo one alas

Yep my double is exactly that – a triple minus the outer ring.

And yep docrobster – I think I used to live not far from you but am now just north of Chesterfield. Your bike, “physique” and riding style seem very similar mine :D

As for not having found any climbs that need pushing up .. You’re doing better than me then!

Cheers for info, excuse the ignorance but what’s all this oval malarkey about? Ok so out of touch :-/

^ ah ok, thanks.

Another silly question – if I get a single speed crank (say XT for example), do I need different BB spacing/chainline?

Thanks, soooo .. Will my hope pro11 SP hub not take an 11 speed cassette then? Can you tell it’s been years since my bike had any love :D

Hmm, I’m still tempted by the 3/4lb weight difference but admit it probably makes no discernible difference. It’s just that there aren’t many other places I can shed weight on the bike ..

Kwack – did you do it yourself? I’d be interested to know what’s needed in terms of tools, spares and mechanical knowledge!

Looks like 3mm difference in axle to crown – what does that equate to in increase steepness of HA?!

And yep – headtube is 1.5″ so supports tapered forks as well as old straight ones